The Manor System

The Manor System was a key aspect of feudalism in medieval Europe, where the lord of a manor (a large estate) owned land that included villages and farmland. Peasants, or serfs, worked the land in exchange for protection and a place to live. The system revolved around mutual obligations: lords provided security and land, while peasants offered labor and goods. This structure shaped rural society, economy, and local governance, allowing for agricultural productivity and stability during a time when centralized authority was often weak. The Manor System significantly influenced social and economic life in medieval Europe.